Local cable provider transitions to digital

Spectrum customers in the company’s northern Maine service area may need a new receiver as the company upgrades to an all-digital network.

PRESQUE ISLE and MADAWASKA, Maine — Spectrum customers in the company’s northern Maine service area may need a new receiver as the company upgrades to an all-digital network.

The all-digital upgrade is scheduled to begin Sept. 5 in Aroostook County, with different communities upgrading each week throughout September and October.

Locally, the upgrade will include customers in Caribou, Madawaska and Presque Isle, as well as customers in surrounding communities.

Tom Rutledge, chairman and CEO of Charter Communications Inc., said via a press release that by changing to an all-digital system and removing existing analog signals, the company will free up network capacity for faster internet speeds, other offerings and “pave a path for future innovation.”

Spectrum will communicate with customers about the upgrade via direct mail, bill messages, outbound calls and messages that will appear on their television set prior to the cutover. Some may qualify to have the receiver free for a period of time.